Gravity right-of-way traffic signal



Feb. 17, 1931. H. J. was 1,79%416 GRAVITY RIGHT OF WAY TRAFFIC SIGNALFiled March 3, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l SAFETY INVENTOR WITNESS H V RATTORNEY Feb. 17, 1931.

H. J. RIES GRAVITY RIGHT OF' WAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL F i l ed March 5, 1930 sSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fit as,

* ATTORNEY Feb. 17, 1931. H. J. RiEs GRAVITY! RIGHT OF WAY TRAFFICSIGNAL Filed March 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 NYNR IINIVENTPR';

Patented Feb. 17, 1931 use . HENRY J. urns, OF-

IOWA, CITY, IOWA i GRAVITY Brenner-WAY.reArrIcfsIGnAL Application filedMarch a,

My inventionrrelatesto signal means and more particularly to signalmeans for-use in the control of traflic, and .itconsists in theconstructions, comblnatlons and arrangements 5 of parts herein shown anddescribed:

'traffic atintersections, which is automatically issimple tomanufacture, has few An object of my invention is to provide asignalling device for use in the control of operable upon the approachof vehicles to said intersection to signal suchapproach to on-c'omingvehicles inother directions and to signal such' approach topedestrians;

A' further object of my inventlon is to provide a device of thetypedescribed which will giveboth a visual and audible signal tovehicles approaching 1n other directions and will further indicate tosaid: other vehicles a Other objects and advantages will appear as thespecification proceeds and theinvention will be'more particularlydefined in the appended claims. I

r The device is illustrated in the accompany-V Figure 1 is a top planview of any ordinary intersection, generally indirated at l, betweenintersecting'streets 2 and At the center of this intersection '1 proingdrawings forming a part of this application, in which: a g

of the signal system set up for operation;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational detail view of a portion of the device; I V

Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, are transverse sectional views on lines H to7 -7, inclusive, of Figure 2; V

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Figure 1; V p

Figure 9 is a sectional detail view. 0 tion of the device; 7 1

Figures 10 to 12, inclusive, are prospective detail views of portions ofthe device.

In carrying out my invention I make use if a porvide a signal tower 4adapted for housing proaching the intersection.

1930. Serial no. 432,753;,

i It is obvious that the signal tower otherplace other thanatinterseCtiOns of streets. This signal tower 4 isadapted and positioned'to control' the vehicle traffic ap- Suitable signalmeans' indicated at5areprovided forithe control of pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks 6adjacent the street. A dewill beigiven hereinafter; V a v For warningvisually' as well as audibly oncoming vehicles ofthe approach of a}vehicle, the to'wer isequipped with alamp 7 which maybe of any suitableconstruction tailed description ofthesesignalling devices and which'fmayfbe"mounted in anydesi'red manner in the tower but which is shown asmounted at the vertical as well as the =t'ransverse ce nte'r thereof andabell' 8 or other audible signal positioned as desired. but

substantially at. the transversecntenthereof. As appears most clearly inFigured this lamp is adapte'dto project its 'rays'in four directionsthrough the tubes 9 which establish communication with the windows 10.It is obvious that'if the signal system' is'u'sed at an intersectionconsisting of more or less than two intersecting stre'ets'thatj more orless of the windows 10 and communicating tubes 9 couldbe; provided tofit this-situation. His only necessary that communication be had betweenthe light and each of the streets approaching the; intersection. Thebell as appears most clearly in Figures 2 and 3 is placed on top ofthe-main portion of the tower and is unobstructed by the walls thereofi7 For coveringand uncovering thewindows 10 which communicates with thelamp 7 for rendering the light signal operative and inoperative and-forindicating the direction of approach oftheon-coming vehicle which isactuating the signal to otherapproaching vehicles, the lever 11 isprovided. A similar le'ver ll is provided for each of the windows 10 andinasmuch as they are of identical con struction only one of them-need bedescribed.

ran Y STATES PATENT I i and mountingthe' various signalsof my de couldbe placed' at any otherdesired point 'and'thatthe device could beutilized-at any shown as placed at the top of the tower and This leveras shownin Figure 3 may assume the form of a human hand and arm 12, onone of its lever arms 13 while the other lever arm projectssubstantially at right angles from the arm 13 making this lever 11 ofsubstantially bell-crank formation. The arm 14 is adapted for anoperation which will soon appear. .A stop 15 limits the movement oflever 11. I For ringing the bell a bell clapper or knocker 16 isprovided on each of the sides of the tower facing one of the approachingstreets for operation by a vehicle approaching from that street as willbe hereinafter more fully described. These knockers or clappers 16 areof identical construction, and.

it is only necessary to describe one of them.

' As shown in Figure 2 they arexpiv'oted above the bell at 17 and havethe pendulous portion 18 for engagement with the bell to give theaudible signal. r I

For operating-thisbell clapper or knocker 16 into engagement withthefbell a lever 19 isprovided having-aportion 20 for engagement withthe knocker 16 and an. enlarged portion 21 for engagement with. the arm14 oflever 11, as appears most clearly in Fig ure "3. It can easily beseen that this lever 19 due to the heavyweighted arm 21 will normallyassume the position shown in Figbeing in'an elevated osition. When thelever 19 is thus place it projects above the shoulder 22 onthe pendulousknocker 16 and in such position is adapted'to engage said shoulder toforce the knocker 16 about the pivot 17 into engagement with the bellupon downward movement of'said arm 20. Suit- Y able brackets- 23 orother mounting means may be secured to the tower for mounting the levers1,9, as well as the clappers 16o Each ofthe above described set ofsignal actuatingmeans is controlled by identical automatic operatingstructure-provided for actuation by approaching vehicles from each ofthe several streets leading to theintersection. a This actuating meansfor each of the .signal actuationsystems comprises a lever v24-integralwith the spindle 25 upon which the lever arms 11 are mounted, anelongated rod 26 pivotally secured to said lever at one" end at 27 andto, a second lever 28 at its opposite end. The lever 11 may be adaptedfor turning movement by the rod 26 by a direct pivotal connectionbetween said lever lland rod 26, the lever 24 being connected ordisconnected to the spindle 25. The pivotal connection 25 interconnectsthesememhers through an arcuate slot (not shown) in the wall of thetower, the arcuate formation providing for the movement of said pivot 25about pivot25. If necessary the rod 26 may be cut away as shown at29-for clearance of the tube or other portions of the lamp signal. Thelever 28 maybe pivoted at is adapted a swivelly or hingedly mountedplatform 31 is placed in the bed of the street. Theplatforms 31 may bepositioned wherever desired or found necessary relative to theintersection when the preferred embodiment is placed'at a distancesubstantially twenty feet from said intersection. This hingedly mountedplatform as appears most clearly in Figure 9' may consist ,merely of asurface: large enough to support an on-coming vehicle, and is supporteditself upon a surface of the street, as shown at '32, and upon part ofthe ac-tuated mechanism 33 by means of a support 3 1. 'As'also appearsmost clearly .290 in Figure 9 this support 34 isada-pted toturn themember 33 about its pivot 35 upon the exertion on said platform 31 ofv aforce which may becaused bygravity acting on the passingvehicle.

-ures,2 and 3, the actuating arm 21thereo'f T This member'33 transmitsits movement to the lever 28 by means of the flexible connector 36secured to the member 33'by the fastening hook 37 and connected to thelever 28 as shown at 38; A pipe or other conduit 1neans,-f-1o0 suchasthat shown atj39 may be utilized to assure free movement of theflexible. connector '36. I

The stationarily positioned signalling arrows 40 are placed'adjacenteach of the platforms31upon the sidewalks or in' any other positions asdesired to indicate to on-coming vehicle operators the presence of saidplatform, This is to assure warning to'the driver a is provided. Thissignal means 5 is adapted for actuation by the platform 31 to assureoperationthereo-f simultaneously with the actuation of thevehicleltraffic signal.

This is accomplished by mounting a lever 11 similar in form andoperation-to the memher 33 for actuation by the downwardly projectingsupport 34,-as shown in Figure 8. Thismember 11 is adapted to actuatethe pedestrian signal semaphore to operative po-' sitions as shown inFigure 8 and to inopera tive position, by means ofthe flexible con- 13o'of the semaphore 42-connectsthe other end.

nection 43 interconnecting saidmember 11' and the actuating arm 44 ofsaid signal-'42. A.

sw'ivelly mounted upon theactuating arm 14 of the flexible member-43mthe signal 42.

housed by the tubing 46 which may be of a The fleXiblemembe-r 453 may besuitably form similar to the tubing 39. This signal "42may be mounted'onany desired means such as a post or'pillo-w 47 which may be positionedat any ClGSlIGClPOlIltto give the s gvnal to the 'best advantage andwhich is shown as positioned adjacent thetransverse cross walk whichintersects the path ofthe approaching vehicle. When the semaphore 42 isthrown downwardly about its pivot 48 to the inoperative position it ishoused or shieldec inthe pocket 49, which may be secured on the post -17by any suitable fasteners 50. This semaphore signal may be provided Withany desired signal such Stop. This actuat ing means is provided for eachof the pcdes trian traffic signals 5 for connection with each of theplatforms 31' as in the ease of the means for actuation of the vehicletraffic signals of the tower 4:. i

From the foregoing description. the use and operation ofmy device iseasily under stood. Upon the approach of a vehicle to the intersectionalong any of the streets leading to said intersection, the operatorofisaid vehicle is apprised of the existence of the signal system by thearrow 40 provided ad jacent that particular street'at the approach tothe corner. This enables him to drive his vehicle upon the platform 31for purposes of actuating the signal. a

This action depresses the platform 31 7 under the force of gravity androtates the members 33 and ll about their pivots.

In the case of the rotation'of the member 7 33 about its pivot theflexible member 36 is placed under tension and rotates the lever 28about its pivot 30. This operation, by means of the interconnecting rod26 rotates the lever 24 or pivot 25 about the spindle 25 and raising thesemaphore signalling arm 11, to the a position shown in Figure 3.

When the semaphore signal arm is thus raised to the position shown inFigure 2 the hand 12 thereof will point in the direction of the vehicleoperating the signal as shown most clearly in said fignreindicating toany vehicle which. may happen to be approaching from the right or leftof the vehicle which is actuating the signal that said actuating vehicleis approaching the intersection from its specific direction. Theelevation of the hand 12 of course uncovers the window 10 and thuspermits visibility of the signal lamp 7 which may be colored red or inany other suitable warning color, tothe operator of any vehicle whichmay beapproaching and= forv which the signal isintended. v,

This actuation of the semaphoresignal 1ever 11 upwardlyalso elevates theendilt orle ver 11 actuating lever 19 and depressing the arm 20'thereof.This operation brings-about engagement of said arm 20 withfthelHl'OClIGP' 16 at'the shoulder 22 thereof thusgforcing theknocker 16inwardly and into engagement with the bell, to give anaudible signal toany on-coming vehicle. a

- In the case of the actuation of the lever 41 pedestrian traflic{semaphore signal member r 42 is raised from its pocket e9 to theposition shown in Figure 2 and Figure 8 in a manner easily understood,thus warning pedestr ans of the approach of the actuating vehicle.

Upon the passage of the vehicle froin the platform 31' the pa-rticularsignals'in the' to its elevatedpositioniunder the force ex .erted by.these members or the-force'exerted by its'po'rtion 31? which may beconstructed 1 of spring material or the force of-fsprings (notishown)whichv may be; placedfitherebeneath or inieng'agement therewithfor purposes of elevation of said platform. The :apv paratus is then in placefor a" repetition of the operation.

' The semaphore signal arm 11 on the tower is visible to all transversetraffic-as can easily be;seen from an examination of Figure 2 inasmuchas it extendsoutwardly' from the side ofthe signal-ling tower where'itmay be seen by transversetraflic coming in either 1 direction, thuswarning vehicles coming from either Way that'an approaching vehicle hasthe right of Way and will shortlycross their path.-- '2 It can thus-beeasily seen that a vehicleupon approachingan intersection will delay'theactuation of his signal and its passage 3 into the intersection ifsemaphore signal arm 11 indicates an' approach of a vehicle froin eitherhis right or his left.

Inasmuch as-the lawsthroughoutithe land are uniform in that the-vehicleapproaching i from the right has the right of way, the sig nallingsystem provides for signalling to'the rightto forestall said.assumption'of the right:

of way by a vehicle approachingfrom the right if the vehicle'approaching"from the left actuates the signal first. It is in the scope of myinvention, however, to-arrange the semaphorelevers 11 to point in anydesired'direction; The pedestrian traiiic signals may be so placedrelative to the platforms 31 that ample warning) is given pedestriansap-- proaohingthe street. 7 If desired the platform 31. could be-placedin-a zone indicated-at 50 of a width. sufficient only to accommodate thepassage of one car thercthrongh thereby assuring actuation of thepedestrian traffic signal in time to preven t entry-of said pe destria-ninto said zone 50 .ihis will cause approaching automobiles to slow downat the intersection for passage therethrough, thereby adding tothesafety of said passage,

'It is thusseen that I have provided a tra'flic signalling system which18 adaptea for simultaneously signalling transverse vehicles as Well aspedestrian traffic of, the approach or a vehicle and which by the use ofrestricted zonesentails upon the operator of the actuat ing vehicleprocedure with caution through that intersection, thereby adding to thesafety and comfort of trailic passing through and about saidintersection.

Iolaim': 1

1. In a traffic signalling system, a separate pedestrain control signal,a separate vehicle control system, means interconnecting said controlsignal and control systemand means for automatically operating saidsignals upon the approach of a vehicle. i S

'2. In a trafiic signalling system, a' separate pedestrian controlsignal, a. separate vehicle control signal, and means for automaticallyoperating said pedestrian signal and said vehicle control signal upontheapproach of a vehicle, comprising a platform positioned in the path ofsaid-vehicle for movement by said tion ofsaid signal members said bellWill be struck; I u lv 6. A traffic signal comprising a hollow signal.post having-aplurality of signal winrality of signal-members sWingablymounted upon the exterior of said post, one of said sigi said signalmembers having an integral arm extended at right angles thereto, a bellmount- -ed within said post, a plurality of hell clappers rockablymounted upon saidpost and adapted to strike said bell, a rockable lever:

connected to respective bell clappers, and said levers projecting intothe path of respective arms of said signal members, whereby operation ofsaid signal members said signal windows will be displayed and said bellWill he struck.

HENRY J. miss.-

vehicle and means interconnecting said plat- 1 form and said pedestriansignal and said vehicle control signal for the transmission of saidmovement to said signals.

3. 'In a signalling system for directingtraffie and the like, asignalling tower adapted for positioning atthe intersection of streetsto signal transverse traffic, a platform positioned in the path of anapproaching vehicle and adapted for the actuation of the signals of saidsignal tower, and means positioned adjacent said platform for indicatingthe presence of said platform to the on-coming ve hicle' v 4, A trafficcontrollingsystem comprising in comblnation a separate pedestriancontrol signal, a separate vehlcle control system,

means connecting said pedestrian oontrol'signail and said vehiclecontrol system :E or s1- multaneous operation upon actuation of saidvehicle control system, and' means for sound- 'nal members beingassociated with each Windew and normally dlsposed thereover, each of,

dew-s, a-source of illumination interiorly o f *said post to illuminatesaid Windows, aplu-

